Category: Politics

Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke, has insisted that the local government election scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, February 22, will hold unfailingly under the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, had on Thursday urged Adeleke not to proceed with the election.

Fagbemi called on Adeleke to honour the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Akure, which reinstated the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen and councillors who were dismissed by the Federal High Court in Osogbo in 2022.

However, Adeleke in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday, February 20, insisted that Osun voters are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday.

The statement reads: “Governor Ademola Adeleke has affirmed that the local government election scheduled for tomorrow is holding unfailingly under the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

“The Governor made the assertion this morning while receiving a delegation of civil society coalition who are in the state to monitor the local government elections.

“According to the governor, Osun voters are prepared to exercise their voting rights on Saturday even as he expressed satisfaction with the level of preparation by the electoral body.

“I welcome you all to Osun State. Our people are prepared for elections tomorrow. They yearn to have their choices as chairmen and councillors.

“OSIEC has also done a marvellous preparatory job according to reports at my disposal. Several political parties are participating and I believe there will be a level playing ground for all to test their popularity with the masses”, the Governor told the visiting activists.

“On the controversy over the election, the Governor asserted that democracy is governed by the rule of law and that nobody can assume the authority of the courts.

“My advice to all parties including local and national stakeholders is to abide by democratic norms. As for me and my people, we stand by the rule of law, not alleged self-help.

“Election is going to hold and the outcome will be a fast-tracked development at the local level. I urge our people to remain peaceful. Osun is a truly peaceful state”, Governor Adeleke noted.”

The All Progressives Congress in Osun has withdrawn from the local government election scheduled for Saturday, February 22.

This was contained in a letter dated February 17, signed by the APC State Publicity Secretary, Alao Kamorudeen, and addressed to the Secretary of the State Independent Electoral Commission.

A copy of the letter obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Osogbo stated that the APC would not participate due to the February 10 Court of Appeal judgment, which reinstated its chairmen and councillors.

The letter read: “Recall that the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHF/OS/CS/94/2022 was meritoriously nullified on February 10 by the Court of Appeal in Akure, in appeal No. CA/AK/270/2022 between APC and three others v. Peoples Democratic Party and others.

“By the judgment, the elected officers have resumed office as allowed by the Appeal Court.

“The implication of the Court of Appeal judgment, as cited above, is that the seats are no longer vacant.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby state that the APC and all its candidates have, by this letter, informed the commission of our withdrawal from the local government election scheduled for February 22.

“The same has become unnecessary, superfluous, and unlawful due to this development.”

There was a crisis between the APC and PDP over the Court of Appeal judgment regarding the sacked APC council chairmen and councillors.

While the PDP claimed that the February 10 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure, did not reinstate the sacked APC chairmen and councillors elected in 2022, the APC insisted on their return to local government secretariats.

Crisis, however, erupted on Monday when both parties laid claim to local government secretariats across the state.

The police confirmed that six people lost their lives, and scores were injured during the crisis.

NAN

There is tension in the Lagos state House of Assembly complex as men of the Department of State Services (DSS) took over the premises and reportedly sealed off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her Deputy, and the Clerk of the House.

By 10am this morning, armed security personnel had taken control of the Assembly premises at Alausa, Ikeja, and were thoroughly searching lawmakers, staff and visitors in the premises.

The Speaker arrived at the premises at approximately 11am with her convoy but was prevented from gaining access into her office or into the chambers.

The DSS officials, dressed in black jackets and helmets and armed with weapons, struggled with the lawmakers and Assembly workers at the door as they struggled to make the Speaker gain access into the chambers.

There have been rumors today that Meranda will be forced to resign but the lawmakers have since prevented that as they kept shouting ‘’Meranda, it is you we want’’. The lawmakers have also passed a vote of confidence on her.

Meranda has since taken charge of proceedings of the house.

The exact reasons behind today’s action remain unclear, but sources suggest it is linked to ongoing tensions within the Assembly, particularly following the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, 2025.